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WHAT IS TYPE 1 DIABETES?
T1D is not a lifestyle disease.
you cannot get it from eating too much sugar, and it can be diagnosed at any age.
diagnosed
at any age
Type is diabetes is a chronic, autoimmune condition that currently has no cure.
It occurs when the body’s immune system
attacks the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas, an organ that produces insulin.
chronic
Insulin is a hormone needed to help regulate blood sugar.
without it, sugar stays in the blood and can cause serious
damage to other organs in the body.
Type 1 diabetes is not preventable.
though the cause is unknown, studies
have shown that T1D results from a genetic
predisposition Along with an environmental trigger.
Type 1 is different from Type 2 diabetes; which occurs when the
body cannot properly use insulin.
(this is also called insulin resistance)
Type 2 is related to lifestyle, but there
is a genetic component. It can often be
treated with diet, exercise + medication.
no cure
not
contagious
not a
lifestyle
disease
not
preventable
auto-
immune
24/7
Living with T1D is a full-time balancing act. It requires constant, 24/7 monitoring to avoid life-threatening and damaging low and high blood sugars. Blood sugar levels have to be monitored with finger pricks along with the addition of a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
Insulin has to be meticulously calculated, based on BG levels, activity and stress levels, food intake, illness and other factors, then injected via syringes, pens or an insulin pump. Excess glucose in the bloodstream can make it too acidic, poisoning the body and resulting in diabetic ketoacidosis, which can have devastating complications and be fatal if not treated. As a Type 1 diabetic, you essentially have to be your own body's pancreas.
Know the warning signs- it could save a life!
t1d is often
mistaken for:
Excessive Thirst
Frequent Urination
bedwetting or heavy diaper
​rapid weight loss
increased appetite
Fatigue + Weakness
Irritability + Mood changes
fruity breath odor
rapid, heavy breathing
stomach pain, nausea + Vomiting
vision change + Headaches
stomach flu or virus
urinary tract infection
ask your doctor if it could be type 1!
Strep Throat
growth spurt
all above photos are mine, and illustrate what a life with T1D is like.
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